Hearing prosthesis with integrated sensors for measuring pressure in a cochlea

Abstract

The present application discloses a hearing prosthesis comprising a stimulation assembly configured to be implanted into a cochlea. The stimulation assembly comprises a plurality of electrodes and one or more sensors. The one or more sensors may be configured to measure pressure within the cochlea. The pressure measurements may include (i) measurements of pressure corresponding to a physical contact of the one or more sensors with internal cochlear structures, (ii) measurements of perilymph fluid pressure, or (iii) measurements of pressure waves in the perilymph fluid corresponding to external sound waves. In one aspect, the sensor may be used by a system to help surgeons avoid damage to the cochlea during surgical implantation of the stimulation assembly. In another aspect, the sensor may be one component of an implantable microphone.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 taking a first set of pressure wave measurements within a cochlea with a first optical sensor, wherein the first optical sensor is a component of a stimulation assembly comprising an electrode array; 
 taking a second set of pressure wave measurements within the cochlea with a second sensor, wherein the second sensor is a component of the stimulation assembly; 
 generating a first set of electrical stimulation signals based at least in part on the first set of pressure wave measurements and the second set of pressure wave measurements, wherein generating the first set of electrical stimulation signals comprises (i) determining a phase difference between the first set of pressure wave measurements and the second set of pressure wave measurements and (ii) generating the first set of electrical stimulation signals based on the determined phase difference; and 
 applying the first set of electrical stimulation signals to the cochlea via the electrode array of the stimulation assembly. 
 
     
     
       2. A method comprising:
 receiving one or more first cochlear pressure measurements from a first optical sensor, wherein the first optical sensor is a component of a stimulation assembly of a cochlear implant comprising an electrode array; 
 determining whether the one or more first cochlear pressure measurements corresponds to at least one cochlea damage condition based on determining that a rate of change of measured perilymph fluid pressure exceeds a threshold; and 
 generating an indication in response to determining that the one or more first cochlear pressure measurements corresponds to the at least one cochlea damage condition. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving one or more second cochlear pressure measurements from a second sensor, wherein the second sensor is a component of the stimulation assembly of the cochlear implant; 
 determining whether the one or more second cochlear pressure measurements corresponds to the at least one cochlea damage condition; and 
 generating an indication in response to determining that the one or more second cochlear pressure measurements corresponds to the at least one cochlea damage condition. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the indication includes at least one of an audible alarm and a graphical indication displayed via a graphical user interface. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the indication includes at least one of an audible alarm and a graphical indication displayed via a graphical user interface, and wherein the indication is based at least in part on whether the at least one cochlea damage condition is based on the first or second cochlear pressure measurements. 
     
     
       6. A method comprising:
 taking a first set of pressure wave measurements within a cochlea with a first sensor, wherein the first sensor is a component of a stimulation assembly comprising an electrode array; 
 taking a second set of pressure wave measurements within the cochlea with a second sensor, wherein the second sensor is a component of the stimulation assembly; 
 determining a phase difference between the first set of pressure wave measurements and the second set of pressure wave measurements; 
 generating a set of electrical stimulation signals based on the determined phase difference; and 
 applying the set of electrical stimulation signals to the cochlea via the electrode array of the stimulation assembly. 
 
     
     
       7. A method comprising:
 receiving one or more perilymph pressure measurements from a sensor, wherein the sensor is a component of a stimulation assembly of a cochlear implant comprising an electrode array; 
 determining whether a rate of change of measured perilymph fluid pressure exceeds a threshold; and 
 indicating a cochlea damage condition in response to determining that the rate of change of measured perilymph fluid pressure exceeds a threshold.